Part 10 (1/2)
At the home station, when at last she reached it, she took a carriage. ”Drive fast!” she said, peremptorily. ”I'll pay you double fare.”
The houses they rattle past were ablaze with light down-stairs, not up-stairs where little sons would be going to bed. All the little sons had gone to bed.
They stopped with a terrific lurch. It threw her on to the seat ahead.
”This is not the place,” she cried, sharply, after a glance without.
”No'm; we're stopping fer recreation,” drawled sarcastically the unseen driver. He appeared to be a.s.sisting the horse to lie down. She stumbled to the ground and demanded things.
”Yer'll have to ax this here four-legged party what's doin'. _I_ didn't stop--I kep' right on goin'. He laid down on his job, that's all, marm. I'll get him up, come Chris'mas. Now then, yer ole fool!”
There was no patience left in the ”fare” standing there beside the plunging beast. She fumbled in her purse, found something, dropped it somewhere, and hurried away down the street. She did not walk home, because she ran. It was well the streets were quiet ones.
”Has he gone to bed?” she came panting in upon drowsy Sheelah, startling that phlegmatic person out of an honest Irish dream.
”Murray--Little Silly--has he gone to bed? Oh no!” for she saw him then, an inert little heap at Sheelah's feet. She gathered him up in her arms.
”I won't! I won't go, Sheelah! I'm waiting. She promis--” in drowsy murmur.
”She's here--she's come, Murray! Mamma's come home to put you to bed--Little Silly, open your eyes and see mamma!”
And he opened them and saw the love in her eyes before he saw her.
Sleep took instant wings. He sprang up.
”I knew you'd come! I told Sheelah! When anybody promises, they-- Come on quick up-stairs! I can unlace myself, but I'd rather--”
”Yes, yes!” she sobbed.
”And we'll have a lark, won't we? You said a lark; but not the reg'larest kind--I don't suppose we could have the reg'larest kind?”
”Yes--yes!”
”Oh!--why!” His eyes shone. He put up his hand, then drew it shyly back. If she would only take out the pins herself--if he only dared to--
”What is it, Little Silly--darling?” They were up in his room. She had her cheek against his little, bare, brown knees. It brought her soft, gold-colored hair so near--if he only dared--
”What is it you'd like, little son?” And he took courage. She had never called him Little Son before. It made him brave enough.
”I thought--the reg'larest kind--your hair--if you'd let it tumble all down, I'd--hide in it,” he breathed, his knees against her cheek trembling like little frightened things.
It fell about him in a soft shower and he hid in it and laughed.
Sheelah heard them laughing together.
Chapter IX
The Little Lover
”I wish I knew for very certain,” the Little Lover murmured, wistfully. The licorice-stick was so s.h.i.+ny and black, and he had laid his tongue on it one sweet instant, so he knew just how good it tasted. If he only knew for very certain--of course there was a chance that She did not love licorice sticks. It would be a regular pity to waste it. Still, how could anybody _not_ love 'em--